No surprise that state missed revenue estimate again

Another month, another missed tax revenue estimate for the state. August tax collections were $10.2 million less than projected. After only two months into the new fiscal year, the state is already $23 million short of projections. And there is little hope for improvement, as the state has missed its estimates 10 of the past 12 months. It seems no matter how much the state lowers the estimates, it still can’t meet them. What makes the shortfalls even worse is that the Legislature and Gov. Sam Brownback spent down the state’s ending balance reserves, leaving almost no margin for error. And as we’ve seen month after month, the state has no shortage of errors. – Phillip Brownlee

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As the governor, a skilled legislative veteran, prepared to deliver Kansas’ State of the State address, the multiple demands for state funding loomed large. The Supreme Court had mandated substantial additional monies for a critical state function. The highway fund was scraping bottom, placing Kansas’ reputation for excellent roads at risk. Moreover, the governor faced the implications of federal tax laws changes, which provided the state with so-called windfall revenue at the expense of taxpayers.